The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has warned R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries to beware of scammers who may try to change their contact details on the SASSA system.
In a statement this week, SASSA urged beneficiaries to keep checking their contact details on the system to make sure they have not been changed without their permission.
SRD beneficiaries’ contact details changed
“The Agency is issuing this statement after the Customer Care Unit received numerous calls from beneficiaries complaining that their contacts have been changed,” SASSA’s Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni said.
“Beneficiaries must note that there is a circulating WhatsApp message where scammers are offering to assist applicants to do their applications. By surrendering personal details to the strangers, they are able to change the contact details on behalf of applicant.
“The Agency is warning R350 grant beneficiaries to do application themselves or request a person that they trust and have access to see or visit them.”
SASSA advised beneficiaries that its customer care officials cannot change a beneficiary’s contact details without the beneficiary lodging a request first.
“The process of changing contacts details requires the identity number of the beneficiary and after that the beneficiary receives OTP number in the cellphone. The official will request the OTP that will enable him or her to update contact details,” Ngubeni said.
If you wish to verify or change your contact details, you need to visit the SASSA SRD official website, scroll down the page and click the tab that says, “Click here to change your cellphone number and/or email address.”
For more information, contact SASSA on their toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11 or 013 574 9428/9363 from 08:00-16:00 during weekdays (Monday to Friday).